Mega-Fun Fractions

[Pages:96]Mega-Fun Fractions ? Miller & Lee, Scholastic Teaching Resources

MEGA-FUN FRACTIONS

by Marcia Miller and Martin Lee

SCHOLASTIC

PROFESSIONALBOOKS

NEW YORK ? TORONTO ? LONDON ? AUCKLAND ? SYDNEY MEXICO CITY ? NEW DELHI ? HONG KONG ? BUENOS AIRES

Mega-Fun Fractions ? Miller & Lee, Scholastic Teaching Resources

With love to Daniel and Joshua Brandes

Scholastic Inc. grants teachers permission to photocopy the reproducible pages from this book for classroom use. No other part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.

Cover design by Maria Lilja Interior design by Solutions by Design, Inc. Cover and interior illustrations by Michael Moran

ISBN: 0-439-28844-4 Copyright ? 2002 by Marcia Miller and Martin Lee.

All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 40 08 07 06 05 04 03 02

CONTENTS

Mega-Fun Fractions ? Miller & Lee, Scholastic Teaching Resources

About This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Teacher Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

FRACTION ACTIVITIES

HALFNESS

Using visual estimation to determine half . . . . . . . . 7

FILL ALL FOUR

Playing a spatial reasoning game using pattern blocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

WHAT 'S IN PETAL, MISSISSIPPI?

Identifying fractions of regions to solve a riddle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

WHAT'S LEFT?

Using visual estimation to identify fractions . . . . . 10

FRACTIONS UP A TREE

Using visual and spatial estimation to draw fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

COLORFUL REGIONS

Drawing dot-paper regions for given fractions . . 15

FRACTION CHART PUZZLE

Assembling a schematic chart to represent fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

PART ART

Applying fractions to geometric designs on grid paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

COLLABORATIVE QUILTS

Applying fraction concepts to create a class quilt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

PAT T E R N B LO C K P RO O F S

Exploring equivalent fractions with pattern blocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

SHADED SHAPES

Shading equivalent fractions on grid paper . . . . 23

STAND UP FOR FRACTIONS

Applying fraction concepts to describe parts of the class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

CLASS FRACTION WALL

Using fraction concepts in an ongoing, interactive bulletin board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

PICTURE THESE FRACTIONS

Applying fraction concepts to describe groups shown in photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

MIXING SNACK MIX

Using hands-on fractions to create "snack mixes" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

FRACTION MESSAGE

Finding fractions of words to solve a riddle . . . . 28

THE LANGUAGE OF FRACTIONS

Completing sentences with fraction terms . . . . . . 28

FRACTION DICTATION

Writing fractions and mixed numbers said aloud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

FRACTIONS AND EGG CARTONS

Using empty egg cartons to model equivalent fractions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

BADGE BUDDIES

Identifying equivalent fractions in a class game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

EQUIVALENT FRACTION C O N C E N T R AT I O N

Matching equivalent fractions in a card game format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

FRACTIONS BINGO--TIMES TWO

Playing Bingo games with equivalent fractions and mixed numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

FRACTION POEMS

Reinforcing fraction concepts through poems . . . 39

SHARING FRACTION PIE

Cutting clay "pies" to compare fractions . . . . . . . 41

FRACTION FILL 'EM UP

Exploring hands-on fractions to compare unlike denominators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Mega-Fun Fractions ? Miller & Lee, Scholastic Teaching Resources

PROVE IT!

Presenting a "legal argument" to prove fraction relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

FRACTION WAR

Playing a card game to compare fractions . . . . . 44

F R AC T I O N RO L L E RS , PA RT 1

Playing a logic game to form the greatest and least fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

THAT'S AN ORDER!

Playing a game that involves comparing and ordering fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

FRACTIONS OF A DAY

Making a circle graph based on fractions of a day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

TIME FOR FRACTIONS

Using fractions to express lengths of time . . . . . . 50

COINING FRACTIONS

Using fractions to express money amounts . . . . . 51

FUNNY MONEY

Solving problems that involve fractions of a set of coins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

FRACTIONS AND AGES

Using fractions and mixed numbers to express ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

F R AC T I O N RO L L E RS , PA RT 2

Playing a logic game to form the greatest and least mixed numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

NOTING FRACTIONS

Expressing fractions in the form of standard musical notation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

A HEAD FOR FRACTIONS

Using mental math to add (or subtract) fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

FRACTIONS IN ANCIENT EGYPT

Exploring the fraction notation used in ancient Egypt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

FLICKER FRACTION SUMS

Playing a board game that involves adding fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

FRACTION ADD-UP

Applying logical reasoning to find fraction sums and differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

SUMS ON A ROLL

Playing a game involving adding, comparing, and ordering fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

F R AC T I O N PAT H P U Z Z L E S

Using logic to add and subtract fractions . . . . . . 66

FRACTION MAGIC FIGURES

Using logical reasoning to solve fraction puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

PA RTS O F PA RTS

Exploring the concept of multiplying fractions on grid paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

ROLL, ROUND, AND RECORD

Playing a game that involves multiplying fractions and rounding products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

FRACTIONS AND CALORIES

Using fraction concepts to interpret data in calorie and exercise charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

FRACTION STORIES

Writing original story problems to be solved using fraction concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

FRACTION SCAVENGER HUNT

Estimating and measuring to find items in fractional lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

ONLY ONE-THIRD AGREED THAT...

Applying fraction concepts in order to analyze a survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

FRACTIONS EVERY DAY

Investigating everyday uses of fractions . . . . . . . . 80

F Q R AC T I O N U I C K I E S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 R E P RO D U C I B L E S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 A K N S W E R E Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

50 Fabulous Measur

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Mega-Fun Fractions ? Miller & Lee, Scholastic Teaching Resources

NCTM STANDARDS

In the 2000 edition of Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) states that students in grades 3?5 should:

Develop understanding of fractions as parts of unit wholes, as parts of a collection, as locations on number lines, and as divisions of whole numbers

Use models, benchmarks, and equivalent forms to judge the size of fractions

Develop and use strategies to estimate computations involving fractions in situations relevant to students' experience

Use visual models, benchmarks, and equivalent forms to add and subtract commonly used fractions

OUR GOAL

We have written Mega-Fun Fractions to provide in one resource a variety of ways for you to immerse your students in fraction concepts. All activities address one or more of the NCTM fraction standards listed above. The range of fraction lessons includes hands-on explorations and activities that invoke problem solving, reasoning and proving, communicating, connecting, and representing fractions. Cross-curricular activities link fractions to language arts, music, science, art, and social studies.

We hope that as you use the ideas in this book in your classroom, your students will develop a deeper understanding of fractions and become more comfortable with this strand of the mathematics curriculum. Our goal is to foster a strong conceptual understanding that, we believe, will lead to greater ease in working with fractions and rational numbers at more advanced levels.

THE FORMAT

Mega-Fun Fractions offers activities written directly to the student as well as guided plans to help you present activities to your whole class, to small groups, or to individuals. Each lesson begins with a question you may pose to students, a learning objective, a list of necessary materials, sequenced steps to follow (The Plan), and several follow-up ideas. The back of the book has three pages of Fraction Quickies--additional ideas presented in an abbreviated manner. You will also find helpful reproducibles and a Fraction Self-Evaluation Form that students complete. Answers appear at the end of the book.

ement Activities Scholastic Professional Books

5

Mega-Fun Fractions ? Miller & Lee, Scholastic Teaching Resources

TEACHER TIPS

The activities in Mega-Fun Fractions are organized according to a very broad outline, and they are presented in this order:

fractions of a region fractions of a set equivalent fractions comparing, ordering, and rounding fractions fractions and measurement adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions culminating activities

Feel free to work through the book in any order that suits you. Revisit activities at any time during the year.

You may find that some fraction activities are too advanced for your class, whereas others may be too basic. Revise, adapt, or extend tasks to suit your students' needs.

You may choose to use the tasks in this book as full lessons, warm-ups, homework assignments, math corner activities, group projects, informal assessments, or portfolio assessments. It's up to you!

Determine the best grouping to suit your teaching style, as well as the learning styles and levels of your students. Invite students to work individually, in pairs, in small groups, or as an entire class. Be sure to allow time for sharing and comparing.

Encourage sharing, discussing, analyzing, and summarizing of students' findings. Establish an atmosphere that promotes intellectual exploration and an appreciation of and respect for one another as mathematicians, thinkers, and problem-solvers.

You may wish to duplicate and distribute the fraction strips (page 84) to provide students with a ready reference for comparing and ordering fractions. Have students color each strip a different color for visual ease.

The Prepare to Share feature on many student pages stimulates students to plan what they wish to say when you summarize the activity. You may wish to ask students to record their responses and ideas in a math log.

Whenever you make manipulatives, such as fraction cards or fraction number cubes, keep them for use in subsequent activities. If space permits, set up a Fractions Center in your classroom where you can store such materials.

6

50 Fabulous Measur

Mega-Fun Fractions ? Miller & Lee, Scholastic Teaching Resources

HALFNESS

Can you open a book to the halfway page? Can you pour half a glass of water? Can you walk halfway to the classroom door from your seat?

GOAL: Students use their visual estimation skills to identify half of a region.

MATERIALS: student page 8, various books, water glasses, dried beans or water, coins or

counters, string, pencils, various measurement tools (rulers, tape measures, scales, and so on)

THE PLAN

1 Begin by brainstorming with students everyday situations in which people make a quick visual

estimate of half. For example:

I'll take half a piece, please.

21

Fill it up about halfway.

1

Hang it up about halfway between here and the door.

The book goes in the middle of the top shelf.

32 2 Continue by having students suggest other examples that involve estimating about half of a space, a

distance, or a quantity.

43 Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a set of materials. Then direct groups to 3 tackle the visual estimation activities on page 8. Have students try each task more than once, and

note whether their estimates of half improve or stay about the same.

54 As students work, guide them to figure out ways to use suitable measurement tools to verify how 4 close to half their estimates actually are.

65 5

TEACHING TIPS

Have students compare their estimates and strategies with those of other groups.

67 Invite discussion of students' strengths and weaknesses in visual estimation. 6 Ask students to describe orally or write a description of how and why their estimates changed with

subsequent repetitions.

7 7

Invite students to create other tasks in which they visually estimate half of something.

Challenge students to visually estimate "half again" of a distance or quantity.

ement Activities Scholastic Professional Books

7

Mega-Fun Fractions ? Miller & Lee, Scholastic Teaching Resources

Name ___________________________________________________________ Date _______________________________________

HALFNESS

Your senses can help with fractions. It's great if you can visually estimate half.

Work in pairs or small groups. Try each task three times to sharpen your fraction estimating skills. Judge how close your estimates are. Do your estimates get better the second and third time?

Choose a book of any thickness. Open it to its middle page. Fill a glass halfway with beans or water. Place two coins or counters a distance apart on the floor or on a table. Then place another counter halfway between them. Have two classmates stand a reasonable distance apart. Stand halfway between them. Choose something within the classroom, at a distance from you. Walk halfway there. Mark where you started and where you stopped. Use string to make a large, closed irregular shape on a desktop. Place a row of pencils across it to divide the shape in half. Have a classmate stand tall. Show where half his or her height is.

PREPARE TO SHARE

How did you check your visual estimates? Did your estimates get better as you went along? Explain. Which kind of visual estimation was the hardest for you? The easiest?

8

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download